PLAYOFF OBSERVATIONS

The higher-ups at the league offices have to be real happy with how Round one of the playoffs broke. Cinderella need not apply for the Western half of the conference semi-final bracket, for it is nothing short of power-packed with Colorado (after finally doing away with the pesky Kings) playing San Jose and with Detroit knocking heads with St. Louis. As far as the Eastern half of the equation is concerned, it may be upset-riddled, but offers it's own dose of intrigue. In one matchup, upstart Carolina will be paired with tradition-laden Montreal. Having the Habs make it two the second round is one plus, and introducing a new market with no playoff tradition is another plus. The last time the Hurricane franchise made it this far they were the Hartford Whalers, who lost a heartbreaker in overtime of Game 7 in Montreal. That was 16 years and one stupid fightsong ago. And believe it or not there is still a player from that Whaler team toiling for the Canes today in Ronnie Francis. Meanwhile Ottawa will be fresh off their upset of perennially underachieving Philadelphia and will either be playing the Islanders or Toronto. Obviously, having Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa all in the mix will guarantee having eastern Canada in a tizzy for at least the next month. However, should the Islanders pull off a Game 7 upset in TO, that would also keep the New York area market involved. And how much would you think Alexei Yashin would be booed every time he even gets close to a puck in Ottawa???